Paul Anthony Sorvino born April 13, 1939 in New York, NY was a legendary film, television, and stage actor known for his authority figure roles on the TV series Law and Order and also portrayed a gangster in Goodfellas, The Rocketeer as Eddie Valentine, Romeo and Juliet, as Fulgencio Capulet and the high-strung husband-father, Gino in the 2003 comedy Mambo Italiano which I saw on Amazon Prime earlier this week; sadly passed away on July 25, 2022, at the age of 83 at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. He is the father of three children, actress Mira Sorvino who’s husband Christopher Backus is also an actor. Mira starred in the Starz TV series Shining Vale as Rosemary, won an Oscar for the Woody Allen film, Mighty Aphrodite, and several films including Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, Amanda Sorvino, a screenwriter, animal activist, actress known for three films, The Trouble With Cali, Midlife, and The Wind in the Reeds and composer, and actor Michael Sorvino who starred in the film, Almost Paris. Our families were very close when my sister 90s rock icon Patti Rothberg and myself were kids and still are today. My mother, Davida Rothberg (maiden name Weiss), and Paul’s ex-wife Lorraine Davis met in acting school and that’s where the long-term friendship began.
Sorvino has five grandchildren. Mattea Angel Backus, Holden Paul Terry Backus, Johnny Christopher King Backus, Lucia Backus, and Claudia Rose. He is also survived by his wife Dee Dee Benkie and his former wife Lorraine Davis. He was a talented figure in the Hollywood entertainment world and was always dedicated to his work and family.
Here’s a tribute video to Paul Sorvino on YouTube:
RIP Paul Sorvino. You were a legend and a shining star and always will be to your family and friends. You will be missed by all.